Previous Issues

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has released the "Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators." NABP conducted a four-week study using keyword searches of prescription drug terms on social media platforms and found numerous posts promoting the sale of medications and providing links to illegal online pharmacies. NABP is working with social media companies on ways to better screen and monitor their platforms for links to such illegal sites.

The Florida Department of Health has fined Heather Kokesch Del Castillo for giving dietary and nutritional advice for pay without holding a license as a dietitian. Del Castillo faces misdemeanor charges further fines if she does not stop. Del Castillo has filed a lawsuit with the aid of lawyers at the Institute for Justice. The lawsuit claims that the advice is constitutionally protected free speech.

With app-based pet care services, such as DogVacay and Rover, becoming more popular, a regulation in New York City requiring anyone offering petsitting for a fee to be licensed to board animals is getting more attention as well. The city's Department of Mental Health and Hygiene oversees the regulation but notes that at-home dog-sitting businesses are not usually investigated unless a complaint is filed. The health department has issued letters to such app companies demanding that they cease operating illegally. The companies are fighting back and have been allowed to continue operating in some states.